If you know how to throw a flatspin, then stick to that. Here's a little word of advice; don't listen to people who don't know how to throw it.
A rodeo does have a similar rotation to a backflip with a spin, but in no way is that it's definition. A rodeo is on it's own axis.
There are indeed hundreds of ways to throw rodeos, but two ways really stand out. There is a rodeo thrown on a more forward axis and there is a rodeo thrown backwards.
1.
Forward rodeo.
(forward is just my description for it)
This is more commonly looked at as being a lincoln loop with a spin. As with any trick, the most important part is how you start it. A rodeo is a slow, flowing trick. To do it right, keep it effortless.. You should never have to huck your meat. If you start it right, it'll come around right in one flowing rotation.
Aproach the jump, get a good forward stance, bend your knees, you are going to need to get as much pop as possible. Drop one of your shoulders down and start to lean into it (like the beginning of a lincoln loop). As you lean, one of your shoulders is going to be raised - pointing up at the sky (if you spin to the left, you're left shoulder will be raised). Just follow that shoulder. Look over that shoulder, up at the sky and just relax, if you keep looking over that shoulder your feet will come around.
So, get a huge pop and lightly lean to the right off the jump, start a lincoln loop, look over your left shoulder up at the sky and just relax. (If you're like me and spin to the right, then just do the opposite, lean left, look over right shoulder). The key is to keep it in one flowing rotation.
2.
Backwards rodeo.
This is where people often get confused and label a rodeo a ''backflip with a spin''. It is on a more backwards axis, but in no way is it a backflip. A straight backflip with a spin would be a backfull.
Like the other method of a rodeo, the key is to start the trick right and to keep it slow and one flowing motion. This method is even more relaxed than a forward rodeo because now you are going with the jump and just leaning back.
A good way to visualize the motion is to draw your hand back like your getting ready to punch someone. Now, do an uppercut. That uppercut motion is what you're going to do in a rodeo.
You get the punch ready by drawing your hand buck, likewise in a rodeo, you get the trick ready by bending your knees and preparing to pop off the jump. Like in an upcut where you punch UP and Over, a rodeo is going to go up and over.
As you're coming to the jump, bend your knees hard, get ready to pop. Do the ''up'' part - Drop your right shoulder down and back behind you, now look Up at the sky immediately. Picture laying on your back, looking up at the sky. That's the up part. Now you need the ''over''. The ''over'' is what constitues the spin in a rodeo. Drop your head back a little bit to keep you in the backwards motion, then just keep looking over your left shoulder. Think uppercut.
Hope that helps.
Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Ski.
